1973-04 April IBEW Journal.pdf - International Brotherhood of ...

up which concurs with your views,
include it with your leiter and tell
)our legislator that )011 agree with
the writer's viewpoint.
Think of your legislator as your
friend and tonc your letters accordingly,
Be courteous and don't tell
him you won't vot\! for him in tht!
next election if he tloc!>n't vote your
way on the bill, or male other such
threats,
Always ~end your leuers to your
own representative and s..:nators. If
YO li !\c nd them to illO~ e of other
di .. triCh and :->Iales, the lellers will
be forwarded to your own legi~laton,
'lIlyway. which i~ a mailer of
co ngre~ .. ional coune ... y.
Too, alway!> )'end ~Ollr kllers to
Wa !\hinglon, not the legi"lator's
home address. 1 he m.ldres!> fo r
!)Cnators is-
The Honorable James T. Smith
Semite Oflice Building
Washington, D.C. 205 10
Dear Senator Smith ( .. alutation)
for representatives-
The Iionorable John M. Doc
House Oflicc Building
Washington. D.C. 20515
Denr Mr. Doc (s:llutation)
Anti always sign your letter> with
you r furt name and addre~. Ncver
write anonymously.
One thing to rcnH.'mbcr i.., Ihat
it's important to lnow when to
writl.' Icttcrs. The be ... t time i ... while
an il.~ue is taking shape, while your
legislator is still formulating his
op"llons. Then. when the bill is
introduced, send a kiter to the
chairman of the committee to which
it i)' rdcm:d.
Congressmen acknowledge their
mail, but if, after writing a Jelter.
yO Il receive an IInsath,factory an­
.. wer from your legi!'olator, ,\rite
again. Tell him you wer..: not l.at ihington, D.C., und their friends, who
I:x:lieve in sharing.
All during the year, the cmplo)ees. membcrs of Local 2. Oflicc and
l'rofc:'I),ional Employcl" Intcrnational Union. and the staff members
contribute to the Marie V. Downcy Memorial Charities Fund. a
charity fund that \~as :'Itartcd many )I!ar~ ago by Ihl! lat l! managing
ctlilor of the IB£W l OI/Tllal. in whose honor Ihe fuml is now named.
Frknd, from ollt .. ide thl! IlIIcrnat(Jnal ORice :l1\() contribute to tht!
fund-friends likc Ninth Di .. trict InternatiOllal Reprt!sentative Manny
Coute and his family. who, e\cry Chri ... tma .... bypa ...... the senJing of
Chri!.l rna ... carJ ... and, in ,tead, ... end Ihe muncy they would h:lvc spent
on cards to the Marie V. Downey Fund. in Illl'f1lOr) of the I:ldy who
wa ... their friend and whom they :.rr lo\ed-friend ... lile ISEW pen·
:'Iioner I larry Michlill , who eontributl!!> on a regulllr b:l:.is each )I!ur
lit Chri!'otmas time-friend ... likl! reti red. 50·)'c:!r IHEW mem!x'r R. E.
Smiley who contributes periodically-friend!'> likl' Mary Downcy,
Marie's mother: Virgini:. D. Weiners, Marie'), aunt: former IEC
lIIt!mbcr Charles E. Caffrey and his wife, Julia: and former inter·
tuitional Vice President Fr;lIIk W. Jacobs. Sr. and his wife. Irelleand
many other friend), who contribute from time to time.
Contributions to the fund arc al ... o often made as memorials to
the dead.
The donations add up, and the money is put to good usc. In 1972,
the Marie V. Downey Memorial Ch;lritie" Fund began the year \\i1h
$333.17. Donations during the year amounted hl S3.66 1.92. for :l
10wl of $3.995.09. I'wo-thou ... and, scvcn-hundred, ,ixty·four dollars
and 16 Cents wer\! ~pcnt during the )e:lr 011 complett! outfits of
clothing for und('rprivileg~d children at the Central Union Mission in
Wa,hillgton. D.C.; 011 Chri .. tma, dinner .. for thc aged at the home of
the lillie Sbters of the Ponr in W:I .. hington: on Christmas charity for
the old folks at D.C. Vill:.ge; on Chri lIospital. the hospital
in Wa ... hington. D.C .. with Ihe built·in deficit. which accept~ :lI1d
treat~ all sick children, regardless of how IlIlich or how lillIe their
parents can pay; and on nine individuab and otlll'T cames that ,.,.erc
d1.!erncd worthy of :lid during the yea r.
In addition, the empln)'ees and .. taff at the International Office
filled 250 Christmas ~todillgs for the Salvation Army for distribution
to underprivileged children. and four dcp:lrtlllenls at thc International
Office clothed children from the Cl!nlml Union Mis ... ion with
their own funds .
Happiness is ... kllowing that "... becau\C y"u helped, Christmas
became a joy of realized dre:lI11s. instead of a nightrn'lre of impo)'siblc
siwations for those in nec(.l." (Salvation Army)
Happi ne!>~ is ... reading a motlll,t"s thank-you note, "Thank you
\cr) much for the gif" and clothes )ou gave my son. He really
lleetls thcm. Thank )OU again."
Happines!> is ... reading the ehiilJi.,h scrawl. "This yea r was more
happ) than last year. I only hope you can know hO\\ much." "To
thanl ),ou for the Christma!> bag. This wa.